ACI Group highlights key role of supply chain contingencies in response to Trump tariff chaos

Distributor and supply chain expert ACI Group has highlighted the importance of building resilient supply chains and investing in niche alternative ingredients and materials to combat economic uncertainty around the world.

With the markets thrown into uncertainty following the US President’s decision to impose heavy tariffs on Canadian, Mexican, and Chinese goods, as Donald Trump openly discusses the prospect of further tariffs – including export tariffs – placed on other nations. Economists widely expect these moves to push up prices across the world as countries retaliate with their own tariffs.

“It’s hard to overstate how out-of-the-ordinary this situation is for businesses, but it’s likely just the beginning,” said Karsten Smet, CEO of ACI Group. “The volatility of normally stable market indicators like corn futures highlight the fragile state of business and investor confidence right now. But the worst thing is the uncertainty. To be frank, the things Trump says bear little relation to the things he does, so the tariffs could roll back on certain products next week, or they could increase over the next four years.

“Whether these tariffs are rolled back or expanded, that uncertainty will never really go away, and this is what will continue to do damage. Businesses must adapt – and quickly. I’m sure many will have a few choice words for the President at the moment, but the most important one is ‘contingency’. At ACI, we know just having a Plan B isn’t enough – Plans C through to Z will be needed to keep value chains running smoothly.

“What we thought of as ‘staple’ ingredients may not be ‘staple’ for much longer. It’s never been more important to partner up with distributors who can connect manufacturers with niche ingredients and alternative suppliers. Distributors can help offset a lot of this uncertainty by making use of the robust contingencies and cutting-edge digital solutions that are already in place.”

ACI Group is known for its Supply Chain Manager tool, which uses AI-powered digital systems to provide cutting-edge insights and forecasts about supply chain issues across the world.

“We know we can’t predict everything,” added Smet, “But what we can’t predict, we can adapt to quickly using the insights gained from tools like Supply Chain Manager – plus our 30 years of experience in the field. It’s going to be a bumpy ride for the next few years, but the businesses that come through it the strongest will be the ones with strong distribution partnerships in place.”

ACI’s portfolio includes solutions for a number of industries, ranging from food ingredients to industrial additives and chemicals. To learn more about its award-winning distribution service, visit www.acigroup.biz.